Labeling machine



Feb. 6, 1940. o. A. MONAMEE 2,189,673

LABELING MACHINE 7 Filed March 1, 195sv a Sheets-Sheet 1 [mm 6107': QWEN 4. M- /Vfl/ /EE Feb. 6, 1940.

Y O. A. MONAMEE LABELING MACHINE Filed March 1, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 6, 1940. o. A. McNAMEE 2,189,673

LABELING MACHINE Filo d March 1, 19358 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 [now J07. UWEN 4. M /WMEE,

Patented Feb. 6, 1940 r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,189,673 f v LABELING MACHINE Owen A. McNamce, Worcester, Mass. Application March 1, 1938,-Serial No. 193,331 15 Claims. (01.216-55) This invention relates to a labeling machine n the drawings, comp e a frame 2 Which s and particularly to a machine for applying labels mounted preferably 011 the end of a threadedto electrical cables and the like, shaft support 3 which, in turn, ispositioned in a In the making of rubber co er d i tri u suitable vertical pedestal member 4, and sup-- cables and the like it is the practice to draw a p d therein y means f a nd-W l 5 strand of bare or cotton covered wire from a paymounted on the threaded portion of the support 3 off 1 reel or other source of supply and passit Which re s on the t p of the member Th through a tubing machine where a coat of Warm d-W 5 is provided t j t e V rt c l rubber compound i applied as in l ti h position of the frame and the labeling mechanism coated wire then passes to a labeling machine Carried t y- I 101 where, at uniform intervals, generally of about There is mounted on the p 0f the frame five feet, unvulcanized rubber labels are posihollow rotatable pp y Wheel 5 having tioned-thereon so as to identify the wire; and it a plurality of holes perforations preferably is to such a labeling machine that this invention COVering a area, of a t the size of a label, D

relates. The wire with the labels attached is i ed Qnthe periphery thereof d commune 151 then suitably Vulcanized and ready for eating with the central or hollow portion of the It' is one of the objects of this i ventio t wheel. The Wheel 6 is preferably integrally conprovide an improved labeling machine for applyheeted t0 a hollow S t 3 Which is ppe ing labels automatically to a continuous length y a movable bearing s d 9 mounted on the p article, such as wire and the like. a of the frame 2. The bearing stand 9 has extend- 20 It is another object of the invention to provide ing m he m 0f,' r sh n p n a l b h machine which 111 automatically ap in the frame, a rod H! which is pivotallyzconnected ply labels to continuous length electrical cables o e d of a ve a e e a I2 I and the like'at predetermined spaced intervals. is fulcrumed in a bearing member [3 mounted on It is a further object of the invention to prothe lower portion Of t e frame and has its p 2 v vide a labeling machine which will automatically p i e end p v y connected a solenoid p select labels one at a time from a supply of labels ton M of a s01en0 5 Which is s b y attached and apply them to continuous length electrical to the under side of the frame. The bearing stand cables and the like at predetermined spaced in- 9 also has lower extending guide-pins. l6 attached v tervals. thereto which cooperate with guide-bushings I! 30 It is still another object of the invention to positioned on e frame to guide the be rin 1 provide a labeling machine which is automaticalstand 9 and wheel 6 in their vertical movement. ly controlled and actuated by the movement of Directly above the shaft 8 there is mounted, on the article to be labeled through the machine. a suitable support carried by the frame, a $019- Various other'objects and advantages of my innoid 28 having a piston l9. The outer end of the 35 vention will more fully appear during the course piston I9 is pivotally connected to'a hollow labelof the following specification and will'be more selecting member 20, having a plurality of suitparticularly pointed out in the appended claims. le perforations 2| in s bottom Well and 00111- In the accompanying drawings I have shown, municating with the central hollow portion there 40 for the purpose of illustration, one embodiment of. v 40 which my invention may assume in practice. Extending from the l Well of h selecting In these drawings: I member 20, and communicating with the central Figure 1 is a plan of the improved labeling mahollow portion thereof, is a flexible hose or tubuchine of my invention partly in section taken on lar member 22 which is connected to the outer line I-I of Figure 3. end of a slide-valve 23 carried by a T-valve mem- 45 Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof. ber 24. The T-valve member 24 is mounted on the Figure 3 is a section taken on line III-III of upper end of a vertically extending pipe 25 which Figure 2. i is supported by a coupling 26 mounted on the Figure 4 is a section taken on line IVIV of outer end of the bearing stand 9 in line with the Figure 3. shaft 8. The coupling 26 communicates with 50 Figure 5 is a side elevation of the upper end both the hollow portion of the shaft 8 and the of the magazine, and I vertical extending pipe 25 and is connected to a. Figure 6 is a section taken on line VI-VI of suction fan or blower 2'! preferably by means of Figure 2. a flexible hose connection 28. v The labeling machine'of my invention, as shown There is positioned on the frame adjacent the 55 outer face of the labeling wheel 6, just below the normal position of the selecting member 28, a magazine 29 for storing a supply of suitable unvulcanized rubber labels. The selecting member is mounted for movement in a guide member carried by the upper side portions of the magazine as shown in Figures 4 and 5. On each side of the magazine there is positioned a vertical screw 38 with a lifting-plate or table 3! assembled therebetween in the magazine which is adapted to support a stack of labels. Each end of the label supporting table 3! has a half nut 32 pivotally attached thereto which is adapted to engage respectively with each of the screws 30. There is also carried adjacent each end of the plate a leaf spring 33 which is adapted to normally keep the half nuts 32 in engagement with the threads of the screws 39. The upper end of each of the screws 3!) carry a lever arm 34. loosely pivoted thereon, and ratchet gears 34 Each of the lever arm 34 carries a pawl 35 and a leafspring 36 which is adapted to normally keep the pawls 35 in engagement with the respective ratchet-gears 34 The outer ends of the lever arms 34 have slotted holes 37 by which they are connected together by means of a cross-bar or arm 38.

The piston l9 of the solenoid Iii carries a collar 39 and a coil spring 4 which is adapted to fit between the inside of the collar and the end of the solenoid. The collar 39 carries an upwardly extending arm 4! having a pin 42 on the end thereof which is adapted to fit in a slotted hole 53 of a cam-bar 44. One end of the cam-bar 44 is loosely pivoted, at 45, to a suitable support directly above the solenoid !8 carried by the frame, and the oppcsite end thereof has a slotted hole 46 therein through which a pin 41, carried by the cross-bar 38 intermediate its ends, is adapted to extend.

Preferably, on the wire entering side of the ma chine there is positioned a mechanism for controlling the machine. This mechanism comprises a shaft 48 positioned in a pair of spaced-apart bearing supports 49 suitably mounted on the frame of the machine. There is pivotally mounted on the shaft 58 a supporting frame 56. The frame 59 carries on its outer end, parallel to the shaft 48, a stub shaft 5! rotatably mounted in suitable bearing supports 52. One end of shaft 5| carries a measuring wheel 53, the periphery of which is adapted to rest on the wire as it passes into the machine. The opposite end of the shaft 5| carries a bevel-gear M which is adapted to mesh with a bevel-gear 55 on the end of a stubshaft 56 which is arranged perpendicularly to shafts 5! and 48 and. rotatably mounted in suitable bearing supports 5'! positioned on the frame 50. On the opposite end of the stub-shaft 58 there is mounted a bevel-gear 58 which meshes with a bevel-gear 59 positioned on the shaft 43.

On the outer end of the rotatable shaft 48 there is arranged a gear 66 which is adapted to mesh with a gear 6! mounted on the outer end of a rotatable stub-shaft 62 which is arranged in suitable bearings 63 mounted on an extending portion of the frame 2 of the machine. There is also arranged on the stub shaft 62 a timing-wheel 54 having a pair of contacting segments 65 on the periphery thereof which are adapted to contact respective brushes or contacting members 66 which are suitably arranged on this extending portion of the f ame One of the contacting members or brushes 55 is connected electrically to the solenoid l5 and the other to the solenoid I 8. The segments 65 on the wheel 64 are adapted to contact the brushes or contacting members 66 upon rotation of the timing-wheel, thereby closing the circuit through either one or the other of the solenoids to energize them.

The frame 2 carries guide sheaves or rollers 67 thereon for supporting the wire as it passes into and through the machine. There is arranged directly below the labeling-wheel t, on the side of the frame, a supporting sheave or roller [-28 rotatably mounted on an adjustable bracket 89. The sheave 53 is made adjustable in order that various sizes of wires can be labeled in the machine. There are positioned, directly opposite the two outer sheaves or rollers Bl on the delivery side of the machine, ironing rollers or sheaves 1D. One of them is preferably mounted on the end 01' a stud-shaft H which is arranged in a bracket 72. One end of the bracket 72 is pivotally connected to the machine at i3 and its outer end carries a suitable weight 74. The purpose of the ironing sheaves E0, of course, is to firmly press the unvulcanized rubber labels into contact with the surface of the rubber covered wire, the labels and wire passing thereunder.

The labeling machine of my invention operates in the following manner. It will be assumed that the magazine is filled with a supply of suitable unvulcanized rubber labels. The rubber covered wire is fed into the machine and pulled therethrough, preferably by means of a suitable power driven coiling draw-off drum (not shown). The fram 58, carrying the controlling mechanism, is swung to substantially a horizontal position so that the measuring wheel 53 rests on the wire to be labeled. The suction fan or blower 21 is set in operation and the machine is ready for labeling the wire. As the wire passes through the machine it turns the wheel 53 which rotates the timing wheel 64 through the action of bevel-gears 54, 55, 58, and 59, and the spur gears 60 and 6!. When one of the segments 65, carried by the timing wheel 64, contacts one of the respective brushes 66, it closes the circuit and energizes the solenoid i5 and raises the bearing stand 9, the hollow shaft 8, and labeling wheel through the action of the solenoid piston I 1, lever arm H and rod Hi. In the meantime the selecting member 20 has picked a label from the top of the supply of labels in the magazine, by means of the suction produced by the fan or blower 2'! in the air lines 26, 25 and 22, and holds it against the perforations 2| on the bottom face thereof. As the timing wheel 64 rotates farther, the second segment 55 on the timing wheel contacts the second respective brush 86 and closes the circuit which energizes solenoid l8, forcing the piston I9 to the right and carrying the selecting member 20 to a position directly opposite the perforations I in the periphery of the labeling wheel 6. As the selecting member moves to the right it closes the slidevalve in the T-member 2d and the suction force is shut off, thereby allowing the label to be transferred to the periphery of the labeling wheel by means of suction induced in the hollow shaft 6 and the hollow central portion of the labeling wheel 6 by the fan 2'1. By this time the solenoid l 5 is de-energized, allowing the labeling wheel to drop down on the wire. As the wire passes through the machine it turns the labeling wheel, bringing the label around and transferring it to the surface of the wire, cementing it thereon due to their adhesive properties. The wire, toget-her with the label thereon, then passes between the ironing sheaves, thereby firmly pressing the label into engagement with the rubber insulation of the wire.

' When the selecting member 20 moves from its normal position to the position directly above or opposite the perforations l in the periphery of the labeling wheel 6, the pin 42 on the end of the arm 4|, carried by the collar 39 of the solenoid piston l9, rotates the lever arm 44 about its pivot 45,

thereby moving the cross-bar 38 which, in turn, moves the lever arms 3'! which engage the pawls 35 carried thereby, with the ratchet wheels 34* on the end of the shafts 30 turning the same, raising the lifting-plate 3| a height substantially equivalent to the thickness of one label. The vertical movement of the lifting-plate 3! can be adjusted by varying the length'of the lever arms 31. After the label has been transferred to the labeling wheel, the solenoid H3 becomes de-ener gized and the selecting member 20 is returned, by'means of the coil spring 18, to position above the magazine in order to pick up the next label.

In the meantime, the solenoid l 5 is again energized as described, thus raising the suction labeling wheel 6 to its upper position. The momen- I tum gained by the labeling wheel, while in contact with the moving rubber insulated wire, will be sufilcient to rotate it so as to position the perforations in the periphery thereof at the top of the wheel. In order to position the labeling wheel correctly so that the perforations in the periphery thereof will be superimposed under those of the selecting member when the latter is brought to position there'over, there is provided a stop finger Bl on the inner surface of the labeling wheel 6 which cooperates with a stop catch 82 3 5, suitably arranged on the frame of the machine.

It will be seen that, when the labeling wheel is lowered, the stop finger ill will become disengaged from the catch 82, allowing the wheel to turn to apply the label. It will also be seen that the labels can be placed on the wire at any spacing desired, by selecting the proper measuring wheel. 53. a

When the supply of labels in the magazine 29 is exhausted, the half nuts 32 are swung away from I the screws 30, thus allowing the lifting-plate 3i to drop toits lowermost position in the magazine, thereby permitting a fresh supply of labels to be deposited therein. It will be understood that this machine is automatic and continuous in its operation and that the above described cycle is repeated for the application of each label to the 'wire.

While I have shown and described an embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A label applying machine comprising means for holding a supply of labels, a reciprocable actuated suction means for selecting labels one at a time from said supply means, means for applying said labels to a continuous length article,

and suction means for transferring said labels directly from said selecting means to said applying means.

2. A label applying machine comprising means for holding a supply of labels, a reciprocable actuated means for selecting labels one at a time from said supply means, means for applying said labels to a continuous length article, means for moving said selecting means opposite said applying means, and means for transferring said labels directly from said selecting means to said applying means.

3; A label applying machine comprisingmeans for holding a supply of labels, a reciprocable actuated suction means for selecting labels one at a time from said supply means a rotatable wheel for applying labels to a continuous length article,

means for moving said selecting means opposite the periphery of said wheel, and suction means for transferring said labels directly from said selecting means to the periphery of said rotatable applying wheel.

4. A label applying machine comprising means,

for holding a supply of labels, a reciprocable actuated means for selecting labels one at a time from said sup-ply means, a rotatable wheel for applying said labels to a continuous length article, and suction means for transferring said labels directly from said selecting means to the periphcry of said wheel, said wheel rotated by movement of the article to be labeled through the machine whereby said labels are placed upon the article at predetermined spaced intervals.

1 5. A label applying machine comprising means for holding a supply of labels, means for selecting labels one at a time from said supply means, means for applying-said labels to a continuous length article, means for transferring said labels from said selecting means to said applying means,

and electrical means for actuating said transferring -means, said electrical means controlled and said applying means actuated by movement of the article to be labeled through the machine whereby said labels are placed upon the article to be labeled at predetermined spaced intervals.

6. A label applying machine comprising means for holding'a supply of labels, suction means for selecting labels one at a time from said supply means, a rotatable wheel for applying said labels to a continuous length article, suction means for transferring said labels from said selecting means to the periphery of said applying'wheel, an electrical means for controlling the action of said selecting suction means, said electrical means controlled and said applying wheel rotated by movement of the article to be labeled through the machine whereby said labels are placed upon the article at predetermined spaced intervals.

7. A label applying machine comprising a magazine for holding a supply of labels, suction means for selecting labels one at a time from said magazine, means for moving said labels in said magazine toward said selecting means, a

rotatable wheel for applying said labels to a continuous length article, electrical means for moving said selecting means opposite the periphery of said wheel, said electrical means controlled by movement of the article to be labeled through the machine, and suction means for transferring said labels from said selecting means to the periphery of said'rotatable applying wheel, said wheel rotated by movement of the article to be labeled through the machine whereby said labels are placed upon the article at predetermined spaced intervals.

by'labels are placed upon the article at predetermined spaced intervals.

9. A label applying machine comprising means for supplying labels to the machine, reciprocating means for selecting labels one at a time from said supplying means, means for applying said labels to a continuous length article and means for transferring said labels from said reciprocating selecting means to said applying means, said transferring means controlled and said applying means actuated by movement through the machine of the article to be labeled whereby said labels placed upon the continuous article to be labeled at predetermined spaced intervals.

10. A label applying machine comprising for supplying labels to the machine, a reciprocable suction means for selecting labels one at a time from said supplying means, a rotatable wheel for applying the labels to a con- 1 tinuous length article, means for positioning said to the periphery of said applying wheel, said sel cting means controlled and said applying wheel rotated by movement through the machine of the article to be labeled whereby the labels are placed upon the article at predetermined spaced intervals.

11. A label applying machine comprising means for supplying labels to the machine, a reciprocating movable member having suction means associated therewith for selecting labels one at a time from said supplying means, a rotatable wheel for applying said labels to an article to be labeled, and means for reciprocably moving said selecting member to a position opposite the periphery of said rotatable Wheel so as to transfer said labels directly to the periphery thereof, said wheel rotated by movement through the machine of the article whereby said labels are placed thereon.

12. A label applying machine comprising means for holding a supply of labels, a recipro eating movable member having suction means associated therewith for selecting labels one at a time from said supplying means, a rotatable wheel for applying said labels to a continuous length article, said rotatable wheel having perforations in the periphery thereof covering an area substantially equal to the size of a label and suction means associated therewith for holding a label thereon, and means for reciprocably moving and positioning said movable selecting member in position opposite the perforations in the periphery of said rotatable wheel whereby said labels are transferred directly from said selecting member to the periphery of said rotatable Wheel, said selecting member controlled and said applying wheel rotated by movement through the machine of the article to be labeled whereby said labels are securely placed upon the article at predetermined spaced intervals.

13. A label applying machine of the class described comprising a rotatable wheel for applying labels to a continuous length article, means arranged adjacent said wheel for holding a supply of labels, a selecting member arranged for reciprocable movement above said label supply means and said wheel and having suction means associated therewith for selecting labels one at a time from said supply means, means for moving said selecting member from position above said supply means to position opposite the periphery of said wheel, said wheel having suction means associated therewith for transferring the labels successively from said selecting means to the periphery thereof and means for rotating said wheel whereby said labels are placed upon the article at predetermined spaced intervals as it passes in contact therewith.

14. A label applying machine of the class described as defined in claim 13, wherein the means for moving said movable selecting member to position above said wheel comprises a solenoid.

15. A label applying machine of the class described comprising a rotatable wheel for applying labels to a continuous length article, a magazine arranged adjacent said wheel for holding a supply of labels, a selecting member arranged for reciprocable movement above said magazine and said wheel and having suction means associated therewith for selecting labels one at a time from said supply means, a solenoid for moving said selecting member from position above said supply means to position opposite the periphery of said wheel, said wheel having means associated therewith for transferring said labels successively from said selecting means to the periphery thereof and means associated with the plunger of said solenoid for actuating means for moving the supply of labels in said magazine upwardly therein upon movement of said plunger.

OWEN A. McNAMEE. 

